Expertise

Research Interests

Biography

Chung was selected following a national search for a physician-scientist to lead our translational and clinical research efforts in head and neck cancer. Previously, Chung was a faculty member at Vanderbilt University in the Division of Hematology and Oncology.

In addition to her role with our Upper Aerodigestive cancer program, Chung will work closely with investigators in our Viral Oncology program, where she will have a second, formal programmatic appointment.

Her research involves both laboratory translational and clinical investigation. A major focus of her laboratory research has been the study of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signal transduction and the mechanisms of resistance to EGFR inhibitors in the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC). Chung also has focused on the roles of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the etiology of HNC. She has been a PI or co-PI of several completed and ongoing clinical trials.

She is co-chair of the Correlative Science and Translational Research Program of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and she holds a similar leadership position on the Head and Neck Cancer Correlative Science and Translational Research Committee of the RTOG. Chung is a member of the Tumor Biology and Imaging Task Force for the Head and Neck Cancer Steering Committee of the National Cancer Institute.

Chung received a B.S. from UCLA, masters from Johns Hopkins, and her M.D. from Eastern Virginia Medical School. She entered the Physician-Scientist Research Pathway at UNC Chapel Hill where she completed combined Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology Fellowship and postdoctoral training in laboratory research under the mentorship of Charles Perou in 2004.

Certifications

Selected Publications

Research SummaryDr. Chungs research involves both basic science and clinical/translational investigations. Her laboratory research primarily is focused on investigation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signal transduction and understanding the mechanisms of resistance to EGFR inhibitors in the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC). She also studies the role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and transforming growth factor-beta signaling in resistance to EGFR inhibition in HNC. In addition, she is investigating molecularly targeted approaches to treat patients with human papillomavirus-associated HNC in order to develop less toxic but effective agents. She applies the laboratory findings to develop phase I/II trials and correlative studies of novel anti-cancer treatments.